Volume Two: No Way Forward Amidst Mountains and Rivers Chapter Seventeen: Into Peril

Lan Sheng, accompanied by Tian Ming, Lan Shan, and Old Yao, bid farewell to the gods of Cloud Palace and passed through the Cloud Sky Stele, arriving at the exit path. At this moment, Tian Ming and Lan Shan had already become Zhuo Hua and Qin Ying. Lan Sheng was still in a state of high excitement, humming a rousing battle song as he walked.

After about a quarter of an hour, Old Yao, who was walking beside Lan Sheng, quietly reminded him, “Young Master Lan, we’ve already left the no-flying zone of the Cloud Sky Stele. We can ride our beasts now.”

Lan Sheng suddenly stopped, realizing, “Ah, yes! We can ride flying beasts—why have we been walking on foot?”

Tian Ming and Lan Shan exchanged glances; when they had come out earlier, they had only possessed their hosts and brought no magical artifacts, let alone flying beasts.

Lan Shan looked troubled and whispered, “We left in haste and did not bring our own flying beasts. Would it be possible to share with you?”

Lan Sheng waved it off heartily. “That’s no trouble at all! Don’t worry about it.” He suddenly realized that, swept up in the excitement of setting out to suppress the bandits, he had forgotten to ask these two new guards about their backgrounds, so he inquired, “May I ask your ages and places of origin, so I may know the order of seniority?”

Tian Ming was quick to reply, “I am twenty-three this year, from the Tian clan of the Northern Lun Continent. My branch of the family is not particularly prosperous—distant kin to the main Tian line.”

Lan Sheng nodded and continued, “Even as distant kin, you are still a member of the immortal-blooded clans. The Blue and Tian families have deep-rooted ties. Brother Tian, you are a few years my senior; from now on, let us address each other as brothers.” As he spoke, he made a courteous bow, which Tian Ming returned as an equal.

Seeing their exchange of courtesies, Lan Shan introduced herself, “Though I bear the Lan surname, I am not of your Central Divine Continent’s Lan clan, but from the northern-migrated branch of the Lan family in Northern Lun, old friends to Tian Ming’s household. I am eighteen years old.”

Lan Sheng pondered, “I recall my father once mentioned that centuries ago, when demons overran Northern Lun, the Tian clan stood alone, and a branch of the Lan family rode north to aid them. After the war, they did not return south but, in accordance with clan tradition, remained to guard the northern frontier alongside the Tian clan.”

Lan Shan gave a few indifferent hums, a perfunctory acknowledgment. But Lan Sheng was intrigued, praising the northern-migrated Lan branch and recounting tales of the two northern immortal clans conquering ancient beasts and demons, especially the centuries-long war between the immortals and the dragons.

Tian Ming and Lan Shan had merely fabricated identities to fool Lan Sheng, to cover for their descent into the mortal world. Unexpectedly, Lan Sheng was quite familiar with these histories, growing ever more enthusiastic in his narration.

Tian Ming glanced at the equally awkward Lan Shan and said to Lan Sheng, “Brother Lan, the great mission of destroying the Sun Worship Cult is our priority; let’s not waste time on this path.”

Lan Shan chimed in, “Brother Tian Ming is right, there will be plenty of time to reminisce in the future; let’s summon the flying beasts and make haste.”

Old Yao and the others agreed. Now it was Lan Sheng’s turn to be embarrassed. He sheepishly took out a flying beast token and murmured an incantation. A deep blue flame flared from the fixed-yang talisman on the token, slowly burning it away. When the talisman vanished, a majestic Cloud Mist Beast appeared before them. Everyone then summoned their own flying beasts; in an instant, radiant lights swirled, and the sky was filled with rosy clouds.

Seated atop his green ox, Old Yao addressed the group, “The journey ahead is long, and flying in a group may disturb the mortal realm. Each of you should fly separately to the Jade Clan’s Luochuan Kingdom in Central Southern Flame Continent. We’ll meet in the capital, Luoying City.”

Tian Ming, sitting behind Old Yao on the ox’s back, said to Lan Sheng and Lan Shan, “It’s eight thousand miles to Luoying. You must be cautious, especially when passing over the Lingbo Sea—there are perpetual gales and demons abound. If you encounter danger and cannot escape, be sure to release the Leisure Lantern. If we receive the signal, we’ll come to your aid at once.” With that, he tossed a small red lantern to Lan Sheng.

Lan Sheng carelessly caught the Leisure Lantern and stuffed it into his sleeve. “Brother Tian, Uncle Yao, don’t worry. I, having been enlightened by the Primordial One himself and survived the Auspicious Cloud Tribulation, will naturally protect Sister Lan Shan and return her safely to you in Luoying City.”

Tian Ming was about to explain, but Lan Shan interjected, “Do you mean it? My brother Tian Ming has never trusted anyone else to look after me.”

Originally, Lan Sheng had simply misunderstood Tian Ming and Lan Shan as lovers, but after Lan Shan’s remark, he was convinced. He thumped his chest and vowed, “Sister Lan Shan, you can trust your clan brother! Even if danger comes, I’ll give my life to see you safe.”

Tian Ming abandoned his attempt to explain. Seeing Lan Shan’s slyly triumphant look, he could only pat Old Yao’s shoulder and say, “Star Lord Yao, let’s go.”

With a swing of his long whip, Old Yao’s green ox snorted, conjuring four clouds beneath its hooves, and soared southward.

At the beginning of March, the Lingbo Sea was warm and humid, the climate pleasant. Lan Sheng and Lan Shan had been flying for three days and two nights, pausing to rest only twice. Lan Sheng remained spirited, the vast, endless blue of the sea lifting his mood. He turned to Lan Shan and asked, “Sister Lan Shan, how did you meet Brother Tian?”

Lan Shan, bored and half-reclined on the broad back of the Cloud Mist Beast, was lost in thought, still worried after days apart from Zhuo Hua. She only returned to herself when Lan Sheng spoke and lazily replied, “He once saved me, then brought me to the Cloud Palace. Later, he helped me through the tribulation. When I was gravely wounded, he nursed me night and day, even gave me his own blood, pulling me back from the edge of death. To me, he is mentor, benefactor, and old friend.”

Lan Sheng marveled, “I never realized Brother Tian was so devoted—he’s truly good to you.”

Lan Shan smiled. “He is indeed devoted. If there were a monument to the lovesick under heaven, his name would surely be at the top.” Gazing into the distance, her pupils suddenly shrank, and anxiety swept across her face. She urgently tapped Lan Sheng’s shoulder, “Lan Sheng, look! Over there—a cyclone is coming!”

Lan Sheng quickly turned, following her gaze. At the horizon, a black speck was swiftly approaching, growing larger, faint flashes of lightning glimmering within.

Lan Sheng said worriedly, “It’s so fast—no matter which way we go, it’ll catch us. And there’s not a single place to take cover out here.”

Lan Shan studied the rapidly growing storm, unease rising in her heart. She said, “That cyclone’s erratic path is clearly aimed at us, and it’s moving faster than any ordinary storm. Something’s not right.”

Lan Sheng urged the Cloud Mist Beast to speed up, replying, “Whether or not it’s a trick, we’re not escaping today. Brother Tian warned us—this wretched Lingbo Sea.”

As the storm drew nearer, Lan Shan made up her mind. Biting her lip, she said, “Lan Sheng, leave the Cloud Mist Beast with me—you ride the winds in another direction.”

Lan Sheng laughed heartily. “No scion of the Lan clan has ever fled the battlefield. Besides, how could I let my little clan sister be used as bait? If word spread, my honor would sink to the deepest trench of the Kunpeng Sea.”

Lan Shan grew anxious and barked, “Go now! Destroying the Sun Worship Cult is the priority!”

Lan Sheng replied resolutely, “Sister Lan Shan, you’re wrong. If I abandoned you today, how could I face setting foot on any land in the five continents and four seas, let alone go south to fight those bandits? Don’t try to persuade me. Even if I die today, I’ll show these demons the might of the immortal-blooded clans.”

With that, Lan Sheng brought the Cloud Mist Beast to a halt, turned its head, and charged straight toward the cyclone.